Dear Families,

What an amazing first full week we’ve had in kindergarten! It’s been such a joy to get to know your children and begin our year of learning together. Both classes also enjoyed our first outing to Prospect Park and made the most of the perfect late summer day.

A big thank you to all the parents who completed the Parents as Partners Questionnaire. Your input is truly appreciated and helps us support your child’s learning.

We also want to remind you about our upcoming in-person Back to School Curriculum Night, where we’ll share more about what’s to come this year and answer any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you there!

Important Dates

• 09/15/25 - School Picture Day

• 09/15/25 - After School Enrichment & LS Music Conservatory Begins

• 09/16/25 - Back to School Night & Reception 5:15 PM to 8:00 PM  (In Person)

• 09/19/25 - Blue Devil Night

• 09/22/25 - No After School: Rosh Hashanah

• 09/23/25 - School Closed: Rosh Hashanah

• 09/24/25 - School Closed: Rosh Hashanah

• 09/25/25 - New Parent Dinner, 6:30 PM

• 09/26/25 - Admissions Open House

• 09/26/25 - United Voices, 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM

• 09/29/25 - HUGS COM & HUGS LGBTQ+ Social, 7:00 PM

Some important reminders for the week:

1. Please email both KA teachers, Kim Davis at kdavis@polyprep.org and Marie Vizzotti at mvizzotti@polyprep.org with any questions, issues, or concerns regarding your children, specifically with any changes to your child’s dismissal plans. Please make all dismissal plan changes on Parent Patrol before 1:15 pm.

2. If you have not already done so, please take a moment to complete the Parents as Partners Questionnaire so that we can plan for a fruitful and productive year for your children. Please complete the form as soon as possible.

3. Please notify the school of your child’s absences by sending an email to lsabsences@polyprep.org as well as your child’s teachers at the email addresses listed above. 

4. Safety Drills: We had our first safety drill of the year last week. We will have monthly fire drills, even during the winter. In colder months, we will exit the building without outerwear, emphasizing to the children that we never return for clothing. The focus is on leaving quickly and safely, and we are outside for less than 4 to 5 minutes.

• Additionally, we will conduct lockdown or indoor safety drills this year. To help reduce any fear or anxiety, we can share common language that we use with the children during these drills.

5. Please send your children with clothing that is easy for them to handle independently. Practice the necessary skills for buttoning and zipping clothing along with tying shoelaces at home.

After School Reminders

1. Here’s a message from Ms. Aliyah (Nursery A): Interested in improving your child's coordination and balance? Want a fun way for them to boost their self esteem, confidence and emotional expression?  Does your child enjoy all things Disney? Well, Disney Dance Party is the class for them! If you are interested in signing your child up, please refer to this link. This class will be on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:15.

2. There are still some amazing classes with space available. Here are just a few highlights! For full descriptions, visit the Parent Portal on Veracross. You can find the full list and register using this link: 

• Varsity Sports w/ Mr. Durando (2nd - 4th) - Mondays

• My First Piggy Bank (N - K) - Tuesdays

• Dancers Of India (PreK - 2nd) - Tuesdays 

• Young Entrepreneurs (2nd - 4th) - Tuesdays 

• Basketball w/ Mr. Kennedy (3rd - 4th) - Thursdays

• Improv and Clown College w/ Ms. Lyddan (2nd - 4th) - Thursdays

• Little Inventors (PreK - 1st) - Fridays

• Little Green Thumbs w/ Ms. Shirley (N - 1st) - Fridays

Please read below for this coming week’s learning goals:

Social Emotional Learning

• Friendships 

• Feelings/Emotions

• Empathy

Reading

• How to take a picture walk 

  • Before reading a book, look through it from beginning to end using the illustrations to anticipate what the book will be about.

• Print Concepts 

  • Directionality

    • Understanding that text is read from left to right and top to bottom on a page 

  • Distinguishing between letters and words

  • One-to-one correspondence

    • Pointing to words as they are read aloud; Using your “pointer power”

Fundations / Handwriting 

• Letters m and n

  • Recognizing lowercase letter m and n

  • The sounds of m and n

  • Writing lowercase letters m and n

• Fundations At Home Pack for letters “m and n”

• The Fundations Home Support Pack provides you with the “why” and the “what” regarding our reading program, Fundations. The Fundations Home Packet also provides you with the language that the teachers use when forming their letters. Please use the same language when instructing and practicing with your child at home.

Writing Workshop

• We will begin our first writing unit called "We are all Writers!" This unit introduces children to writing by exploring both informational pieces and true stories. Students are encouraged to think, draw, label, and write about their pictures in their own way. It's an exciting step in developing their storytelling skills.

• We are also learning the little rhyme, When you think you’re done, you’ve only just begun. Children often say they are done, but we ask them to add more details to drawing, labeling and writing.

Math

• MIF Home to School Connections  

• Counting up to 5 objects using one-to-one correspondence

• Practicing writing numbers with the correct formation

• Distinguishing between same and different characteristics of objects and pictures

• Sorting and classifying

• Vocabulary: same, not the same, different, match, sort

Social Studies

• Seasons

  • Naming them and discussing what happens in nature and in our lives during the four seasons

• National Hispanic Heritage Month

  • Kindergarten focuses mostly on Mexico

What You Can Do At Home

• Letter Sound Hunt: Encourage your child to find objects around the house that start with the letters m (e.g., mug, milk, mustard) and n (e.g., napkin, nose, necklace). As they find each item, have them say the letter and the sound it makes.

• Letter Writing Practice: Have your child practice writing the lowercase letters m and n using crayons, markers, or even with finger paint. You can write the letters first and let them trace them, then encourage them to write independently.

• Counting with Everyday Objects: Use household items like buttons, toys, or snacks (e.g., crackers or grapes) to practice counting. Have your child count out loud while pointing to each item one by one, ensuring they say only one number per object. Start with 1, then gradually increase to 5.

• Number Tracing in Sand or Flour: Pour a small amount of sand or flour into a shallow tray. Encourage your child to trace the numbers 1 through 5 using their fingers. This tactile activity reinforces number formation and helps with fine motor skills. 

• Discuss the importance of celebrating Heritage Months: In September, we take time to celebrate the history, cultures, and contributions of people whose families come from places like Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America, and South America. We celebrate because Hispanic people have shared so many important traditions, stories, foods, music, and ideas that make our communities stronger. It’s a way to honor them and to learn about different cultures.

• Read Picture Books About Mexico: Choose a children's book that highlights Mexican culture or famous people from Mexico, such as "Round is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes" by Roseanne Thong or "The Piñata Maker / El Piñatero" by George Ancona. After reading, discuss with your child what they learned about life in Mexico, and have your child draw their favorite part of the story.